W211 front drivers seat removal

[BIG_G_1979]

Looks great, was it difficult? Is it just bolts under the car? Do you need to remove any of the floor pan?

Not as easy as I thought it would be, getting seat out was straight forward enough (disconnect battery, unclip harnesses and 4 bolts and lift out) although that seat weighs a bloody ton. But stripping seat Base off frame was more difficult but not too difficult to pay someone to do if you know what I mean. Removing the actual cover was a learn by you experience there's wire rods in the cover which hook into the foam Base this is how the seat keeps it contours. If you need any help when your doing yours I'm here to help!

 

[BIG_G_1979]

Not as easy as I thought it would be, getting seat out was straight forward enough (disconnect battery, unclip harnesses and 4 bolts and lift out) although that seat weighs a bloody ton. But stripping seat Base off frame was more difficult but not too difficult to pay someone to do if you know what I mean. Removing the actual cover was a learn by you experience there's wire rods in the cover which hook into the foam Base this is how the seat keeps it contours. If you need any help when your doing yours I'm here to help!

Edit. No bolts under car just the 4 bolts through seat rail

 

[Gareth]

Cool, so just remove the earth lead from the main battery, four bolts inside the car and away you go? Was removal and re-fit easy enough?

Cheers

 

[BIG_G_1979]

Yeah removal and refit easy enough chum sort of self explanatory once you start to lift cover up, have u order one from dealers? Think they're on back order now

 

[Gareth]

Not yet, I'm going to go to MB Brooklands tomorrow and order it along with a new fuel cap as my cord is about ready to break. Thanks for the info, I think I should be able to manage it, just hope they can get hold of mine (I'm not in a hurry though). Did you just remove the earth lead from the main battery?

 

[BIG_G_1979]

Yes I removed the earth lead and waited 10 mins before disconnecting the airbags etc just to be safe.

 

[Jonesy161]

Gareth, go to the gym for six months before trying to take the seat out, as mentioned by big g, can't believe how heavy they are. Get someone to help with the lifting.

 

[Merceclass]

i took my drivers seat out mate without disconnecting earth 4 bolts and 2 plugs you need to reset air bag light after re fitting the seat

 

[BIG_G_1979]

i took my drivers seat out mate without disconnecting earth 4 bolts and 2 plugs you need to reset air bag light after re fitting the seat

Perhaps that's why it's recommended to disconnect battery to prevent a airbag warning light, I disconnected mine and I never had such warning.

 

[Gareth]

Ordered it this morning, only 2 left in Germany, came in at £284.40 for me. I got a new fuel cap and fitted that also, not bad at £15.48.

I need to buy a star drive socket now.

 

[Jonesy161]

I had to take my seat out to repair the plastic cradle holding the air bag connectors, didn't disconnect the battery, then had to have the a b light reset, luckily my local friendly garage did it foc.

 

[Gareth]

Cheers guys, I'll be disconnecting the battery in the boot beforehand, just been and bought the required star socket (12mm)

 

[Gareth]

I got mine fitted on Monday and I gave it a good clean inside and out today, not bad for 10 years old:

 

[BIG_G_1979]

Looks great Gareth makes the world of difference, whatvdid you think of fitting the cover? Easy or not?

 

[Gareth]

No, I'd say its not easy. I struggled with time / daylight to be honest, that and lack of adequate tools also (I didn't have the larger star drive for removing the seatbelt etc). I'm happy with the job for now and the cover certainly isn't going anywhere but I know its not 100% right, I plan on re-doing it when I have more time and the right tools. Did you drill and remove the pop-rivets on the pocket on the front of the seat? I can't see a way of re-fitting the cover properly with it in place.

The foam underneath in mine is split also, I'm tempted to get a price and order a replacement of that to fit also.

 

[BIG_G_1979]

Hi Gareth, yes I drilled the pop rivets out from the cubby hole, I bought replacement rivets from B&Q I used 4mm by 12mm cost £2.75 for a packet. There 3 rivets along front and 2 underneath I can see how you would struggle with the cubby hole in situ, far easier if removed, I'm surprised you got old one off with it there, by the way there's some lifting in those seats eh?

 

[Gareth]

Yeah they are a fair weight, i have some back issues so it doesnt help. Getting the original off wasnt too much of an issue and the door side and front are secure, its just the inner edge really that is slack as i couldnt get it to sit right and ran out of daylight and needed to get the car back together.

 

[Gareth]

Just an update to say I completely removed mine again in December before we moved up north and got it all re-fitted properly so it is spot on now

 

[BIG_G_1979]

Great stuff mate thanks for the update mine is still spot on but now the upper cover is starting to crack rip at bolster ffs